Ayush Shetty eyes big leap at All England after going back to the drawing board

BENGALURU: It has been a testing phase for Ayush Shetty since clinching his maiden international title at the US Open 300 in June last year. The Mangaluru shuttler has since raised his sights to higher-tier events (Super 500 and above), but consistency has eluded him, with nine first-round exits in that period.Yet, morale-boosting wins over elite names — Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen and Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia — have reinforced his belief that he belongs at the highest level.

“The goal is to be in the top-10 by the end of the season,” said Ayush, currently ranked World No. 22. “Consistency is the key. I need to be finishing on the podium in bigger tournaments — Super 500s, 750s and even 1000s — if I want to achieve that.”

His best returns in the past eight months have been quarterfinal appearances at the Hong Kong Open, Hylo Open and Australian Open, all Super 500 events. Encouraging, certainly, but not yet the sustained deep runs required to break into the elite bracket.The immediate test of his progress comes in his maiden appearance at the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships, which begins in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Ayush, who arrived just before unrest spread across parts of West Asia and threatened travel schedules, opens against Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan, ranked 14th in the world. Farhan had beaten him in straight games earlier this year at the Indonesia Masters, adding a layer of intrigue to their first-round clash.The 6-foot-4-inch Indian is known for powerful smashes, but he understands that brute force alone will not suffice at a Super 1000 event stacked with the world’s best.

“In men’s singles, every opponent is equally tough. On any given day, anyone can beat anyone,” he said. “The intensity is extremely high at these tournaments. But when you’ve beaten top players before, it gives you confidence that you belong at that level.

I just have to do it more consistently.”In preparation for the All England, Ayush skipped the German Open, opting instead for focused training at the Centre for Badminton Excellence here. Logging more than five hours daily, he worked extensively on his defence, movement and front-court play — areas he believes will make the difference in tight contests.Training alongside India No.1 Lakshya Sen has also provided valuable insights, as did sessions last year with two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen. The exposure, Ayush feels, has elevated his understanding of what it takes to compete consistently at the highest level.Now, at the All England, Ayush has the stage — and the chance — to turn belief into a breakthrough.